• DOI:10.1145/1978942.1979306
• Corpus ID: 14997294

Enhancing physicality in touch interaction with programmable friction

@article{Lvesque2011EnhancingPI,
  title={Enhancing physicality in touch interaction with programmable friction},
  author={Vincent L{\'e}vesque and Louise Oram and Karon E. MacLean and Andy Cockburn and Nicholas D. Marchuk and Daniel M. Johnson and J. Edward Colgate and Michael A. Peshkin},
  journal={Proceedings of the SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems},
  year={2011}
}

• Vincent Lévesque, Louise Oram, +5 authors M. Peshkin
• Published 7 May 2011
• Computer Science
• Proceedings of the SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems

Touch interactions have refreshed some of the 'glowing enthusiasm' of thirty years ago for direct manipulation interfaces. However, today's touch technologies, whose interactions are supported by graphics, sounds or crude clicks, have a tactile sameness and gaps in usability. We use a Large Area Tactile Pattern Display (LATPaD) to examine design possibilities and outcomes when touch interactions are enhanced with variable surface friction. In a series of four studies, we first confirm that variable friction gives significant performance advantages in low-level targeting activities. We then explore the design space of variable friction interface controls and assess user reactions. Most importantly, we demonstrate that variable friction can have a positive impact on the enjoyment, engagement and sense of realism experienced by users of touch interfaces.